Improvement in steam-brakes



T. WILSON.

v Steam-Brake. No.164 O66 Patentedlune1,.l875.

B THE GRAPHIC COPHOTO-LITH-SQBKM PARK PLACE, NY-

D STATES ATEN'r Ormon.

HIS RIGHT TO GEORGE W. FIST, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM-BRAKES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. {64,066, dated June1,1875; application filed March 28, 1874.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS WILSON, of the village and county ofKalamazoo, State of Michigan, have invented certain Improvements inSteam-Brakes for Railway-Oars, of which the following is aspecification:

This invention consists mainly in the employment of a rotary pistonadapted to make a partial revolution in a cylindrical case having afixed bridge-piece or separating-diaphragm, in connection with a properpipe for admitting live steam from the boiler and conducting away theexhaust a suitable regulating-cock adapted for operation by theengineer; and proper mechanism by means of which the motion of thepiston is communicated to the brake mechanism beneath the cars, thewhole forming a simple and effective car-brake, as will be fullydescribed hereinafter. I

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improvedcar-brake as applied to the locomotive; Fig. 2, an elevation of thecylinder with one of its sides removed; Fig. 3, a transverse sectionalelevation of the cylinder; Figs. 4 and 5, views of a four-way cock insection; and Fig. 6, a view of the valve for regulating the pressure inthe cylinder, detached.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willnow proceed to describe fully its construction and manner of operation.

Arepresents a cylindrical case, of any proper size and suitableconstruction, which is provided upon its inner circumference with thefixed bridge-piece or'separating-diaphragm a, as shown. B represents ashaft supported in proper bearings, centrally located in the sides ofthe cylindrical case, which is provided with a central disk, 1), adaptedin width to fill closely the space between the sides of the case, and indiameter to bear against the inner edge of the bridge-piece a, as shown,which has also the radial piston 1), adapted to fill the space betweenthe disk and the case, as shown. C, Figs. 1 and 3, represents a pulleyor its equivalent, attached to one ofthe sides' of shaft B, as shown. Drepresents a chain or other suitable means for communicating the motionof the piston to the brake mechanism beneath the cars. drepresents apipe communicatingwith the interior of the boiler. d represents a cock(shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5) adapted to control the supply ofsteam through the conmeeting-pipes to the cylinder; (1 a pipe forconveying live steam to the cylinder upon one side of the bridge pieceor separating diaphragm; (1 a similar pipe for conveying live steam tothe other side of the bridge-piece, and d an exhaust-pipe, the open endof which terminates below the foot-board of the engine.

The operation is as follows: When it is desired to check the motion ofthe cars the regulating-cock is turned by the engineer in such manner asto admit live steam from the boiler, through the pipes (1 d into thecylinder between the piston and the bridge piece, by means of which thepiston is caused to turn in I the cylinder, and, by means of the shaft,pul ley, and connecting-chain, apply power to the brake mechanismbeneath the cars. The brakes are thus applied and held until a reversemovement of the handle of the regulating-cock, as shown in Fig. .5,shuts off the connection with the boiler and opens communication betweenpipe 01 and the exhaust d.

This same movement may also, if desired, admit live steam to the otherside of the bridge-piece, through pipe 01 for the purpose of giving thepiston its return movement; but this is not absolutely essential, as itmay be accomplished by the reaction of the brakes or by other propermeans.

The bridge-piece is provided with a proper buffer-block, 00, by means ofwhich it is prevented from being injured by the return movement of thepiston.

The chain communicating with the cars is so arranged that thefull forceof the brakes is applied before the piston makes a complete revolution.

Any suitable mechanism may be employed beneath the cars to apply thepower to the brakes.

Some of the advantages of the described con struction are as follows:The cylindrical case being compact in form, it may be located upon theengine near the boiler, and be connected thereto by short pipes. By thismeans the liability of the steam to condense in cold weather ismaterially reduced, both on account of proximity to the hot boiler andthe shortness of the plpes. 7

By locating the same upon the engine, also, the necessity ofcoupling-joints between the engine and tender is avoided.

As the cylinder is connected directly with the boiler, and as the entiresteam-pressure is borne thereby, it is desirable, as a matter ofprecaution, to use a safety-valve, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, between itand the boiler,which may be regulated to increase or diminish thepressure, according to the number of the cars in the train. Having thusfully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

The car-brake described, consisting of the piston 13 12, adapted to makea partial revolution in the cylinder 0, the live steam and exhaust pipes01 d d", the regulating-cock (1 adapted for operation by the engineer,and the intermediate devices 0 D, for communicating the movement of thepiston to the brake mechanism, the parts being relatively so arranged.that the brakes are fully applied before the piston can make a completemovement, substantially as described.

THOMAS WILSON.

Witnesses w OSCAR T. TUTHILL, VoLNEY E. BURKE.

